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The IFOAM EU Group is the European umbrella organisation for organic food and farming. We fight for the adoption of ecologically, socially and economically sound systems based on the principles of Organic agriculture – health, ecology, fairness and care. With more than 160 member organisations our work spans the entire organic food chain and beyond: from farmers and processors, retailers, certifiers, consultants, traders and researchers to environmental and consumer advocacy bodies.
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IFOAM EU Group Press Release:
EU Parliament and Council need to significantly revise draft legislation on seed
Brussels, 6 May 2013 - The Commission failed to deliver a proposal that clearly favours agro-biodiversity today on the marketing of seed and plant propagating material, regrets the IFOAM EU Group. Council and Parliament must improve the text in the legislative process during coming months.
The New IFOAM EU Newsletter is Now Available!
IFOAM EU Group Press Release:
CAP Trilogues must consider potential of organic farming
Dublin, 24 April 2013 - Today EU Organic farming groups met in Dublin to discuss the CAP reform post-2013, new research and innovation frameworks and future Organic Action Plans in the public seminar “A new green agenda for farming and rural areas in Europe” organised by the IFOAM EU Group, the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association and the Organic Trust.Read the full press release here.
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IFOAM EU Group Press Release:
CAP trilogues must lead to a greener and fairer CAP
Brussels, 10/04/2013 - On the eve of the opening of inter-institutional negotiations on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) the IFOAM EU Group calls on the chief EU negotiators to remember the great responsibility they have to respond to the needs of farmers and citizens, and therefore deliver a CAP reform that places sustainability at the heart of EU agricultural policy.
Read the full press release here.
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Last day to tell the European Commission what you think about organic
Deadline: 10 April
The European Commission recently launched an online consultation on organic food and farming. The consultation is part of the current regulation review kicked off in 2012 by the European Commission including an evaluation, a report to the Council, an impact assessment and stakeholder consultation. This review may result in a legal proposal by end of 2013 to amend the current Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007. Therefore this online consultation is of fundamental importance for the organic sector and therefore for you.
IFOAM EU suggested answers for your inspiration.
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CAP Special Edition: IFOAM EU Newsletter
Now Available
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IFOAM EU Group Press Release:
Farm Ministers undermine potential for a greener and fairer CAP
Brussels, 20/03/2013 - Last night Agriculture Ministers adopted their negotiating position on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The agreement, however, represents another missed opportunity by EU leaders to build on the European Commission’s proposals by slowing the transition towards a fairer distribution of direct payments and failing to move the CAP towards greater sustainability. IFOAM EU Group President Christopher Stopes said: "Despite citizens’ calls for a greener and fairer CAP and cuts in the EU budget, Agriculture Ministers have failed to act accordingly.
Read the full press release here.
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IFOAM EU Group Press Release:
Missed chance: MEPs fail to use new powers for a real CAP reforms
Strasbourg, 13/03/2013 - Today, the European Parliament adopted its position on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The vote is an improvement on the proposal made by the Parliament’s Agriculture Committee. However, MEPs missed the chance to make greening a real priority.
"Throughout the EU, citizens are calling for a greener and fairer CAP. For the first time the European Parliament has law making powers in the CAP reform process. At least the Parliament rejected the introduction of numerous unjustified exemptions from greening, but it still watered down greening measures significantly. It is also unfortunate that the Parliament has failed to use its new powers to fully represent citizens’ wishes and significantly ‘green’ the CAP, for example by strengthening measures for advanced sustainability such as agri-environment, organic farming and introducing crop rotation for all," criticises Christopher Stopes, President of IFOAM EU GroupRead the full press release here.
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CAP Reform: The countryside and farming is in crisis!On 13 March 2013 the European Parliament must vote for greener and fairer agriculture Help us to reach all MEPs by taking part in our E-ACTION today!***
Shaping Europe's Organic Future Together: Making an impact on the EU organic legal framework within the future CAP
Register before 30 April and get 20% off
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March IFOAM EU Newsletter
Now Available
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Civil society organizations call for a CAP reform that supports sustainable farming and rural areas - not business as usualBrussels, 28 February 2013 - Today an open letter signed by over 270 organisations from across Europe was sent to all Members of the European Parliament. The letter voices Civil Society’s concerns on the current reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy and how it has been poorly managed by the European Parliament’s Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, in the lead up to the plenary vote planned on 13 March.
Read the full press release here.
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IFOAM EU Group Press Release:
Further information required on hen density scandal
IFOAM EU condemns all fraud attempts and requests full clarification of facts
Brussels, 26 February 2013 - This weekend news has been released of scandal regarding egg production in Germany. It is alleged that in 2010-2011 a number of farms housed more hens than allowed by the regulations and standards governing the “barn”, “free-range” and “organic” indications under which the eggs were sold. In the case of the organic eggs, this would mean that they came from farms certified as organic, but that the farmers did not respect the organic requirements for maximum stocking density. IFOAM EU condemns all attempts to commit fraud and circumvent organic regulations and standards.Read the full press release here.
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Coming to BioFach?
Attend IFOAM EU events on EU regulation review, implementing rules, pesticide residues, climate change and GMOs, US/EU equivalency, environmental performance for processors and organic aquaculture, catering and wine.
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IFOAM EU Group Press Release:
EU leaders must guarantee a greener and fairer future for Europe’s farming and rural areas
Brussels, 06 February 2013 - On the eve of EU Budget negotiations the IFOAM EU Group calls on EU Heads of State and Government to lay the foundations for a greener and fairer CAP. Proposed disproportionate cuts to the Pillar 2 budget (9.3% for Pillar 2 compared to 3.0% for Pillar 1) and any weakening of Pillar 1 greening under the next Multi-annual Financial Framework (MMF) 2014-2020 must be rejected.Read the full press release here.
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IFOAM EU Group Press Release:
COMAGRI position on CAP reform is a vote against agricultural sustainability
Brussels, 23 January 2013 - The IFOAM EU Group regrets the ratification of draft negotiating positions on direct payments and rural development by the European Parliament Agriculture Committee today. These positions fail to deliver an ambitious reform that would conclusively support greener agriculture post-2013. The European Organic food and farming movement call for MEPs to put the green promise of this CAP reform back on track.
Read the full press release here.
***December IFOAM EU Newsletter Now Available
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IFOAM EU Group Press Release:
EU leaders must raise ambitions to make the future CAP sustainable
Brussels, 19 December 2012 - IFOAM EU Group observes with concern that the Council progress report and the compromises unveiled by the European Parliament Agriculture Committee this week lack ambition to come to a real reform for a substantially greener and fairer CAP post-2013.
Read the full press release here.
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IFOAM EU Group Press Release:
7th EAP: Policy makers must bring green economy to the mainstream
Brussels, 30 November 2012 - IFOAM EU (1) welcomes the Commission’s proposal for a new 7th EU Environmental Action Program called “Living well, within the limits of our planet” (2). IFOAM EU calls on policy makers to use the paper as a guideline to make the EU budget greener and cleaner in the current negotiations on the EU financial framework MFF 2014-2020.
Read the full press release here.
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IFOAM EU Group Press Release:
The Future of Organic Food Processing: Sustainability - Quality - Integrity
Frankfurt, 27 November 2012 - Experts from the organic food processing and trade industry – processors, traders, researchers and trade associations – gathered to discuss the way forward at the 2nd IFOAM EU Group conference on organic food processing and environmental performance, co-organised by AOEL and FIBL. The conference participants, more than 80 people from about 15 countries, emphasised the need for organic operators to take full responsibility for sustainability, integrity and quality. Nevertheless there is a need for the further development of organic processing rules.
Read the full press release here.
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IFOAM EU Group Press Release:
EU water blueprint must lead to a "blue" and sustainable CAP
Nicosia, 26 November 2012 - IFOAM EU welcomes the ‘Blueprint to Safeguard Europe’s Waters’ launched and discussed at the EU Water Blueprint presidency conference in Cyprus today. However, to overcome the pressure on water resources, Member States and EU institutions must now follow up with concrete, actionable policies.
Read the full press release here.
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IFOAM EU Group Press Release:
Future EU promotional policy must focus on sustainability
Brussels, 21 November 2012 - IFOAM EU welcomes the European Parliament’s recognition of the increasing consumer demand for organic products and the need to stimulate the development of organic production by enhanced promotion, as expressed in its resolution on Promotion measures for agricultural products. IFOAM EU demands that the new promotional policy contribute to the shift towards agricultural practices which use natural resources sustainably and contribute to employment in rural areas. Therefore, a clear focus should be put on the promotion of the new organic EU logo and organic production.
Read the full press release here.
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No EU budget cuts at the expense of farming sustainability
Brussels, 15 November 2012 - The IFOAM EU Group rejects the compromise proposal on the EU budget published yesterday by Council President Hermann van Rompuy which seeks to weaken the greening component under CAP direct payments as well as cut the rural development budget by 9.3%. Organic farmers who are meeting these days in Brussels also underline that a strong Rural Development fund plays a critical role in addressing key EU socioeconomic and environmental priorities and must not be the victim of severe budget cuts.
Read the full press release here.
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November IFOAM EU Newsletter Now Available
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No more blank cheques for agriculture
Open letter from ARC2020, BirdLife Europe, the European Environmental Bureau, Friends of the Earth Europe, IFOAM EU Group and WWF on EurActive
From the start, negotiations on the future of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) were supposed to be about delivering more for Europe’s environment, rural communities and long-term food security. Despite this welcome and ambitious intent, it now appears that the current destructive business-as-usual agenda will persist. In the hothouse of negotiations, the original drive for reform is being dangerously weakened. Read more...
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Conference on climate change, water scarcity and eco-tourism
On 26 September 2012, an IFOAM EU conference on water scarcity was held in Cyprus and was attended by around 90 people. The topics were higher efficiency in the use of resources, measures to save water and retain rainwater, our water footprint and the future EU common agricultural policy. By chance, the TV chef Tonia Buxton, who appears on Sky TV and is well known in Britain and Cyprus, dropped in during lunch. In a brief, impromptu speech, she emphasised the point that, when asked in her cookery shows what her secret is, she always tells people that the main thing is to use organic ingredients. Naturally, the conference attendees responded with enthusiastic applause. Read more...
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IFOAM EU Group Press Release:
IFOAM EU highlighted role of organic farming in EU Informal Rural Development Directors' meeting
Limassol, Cyprus, Sept. 27 2012 - An IFOAM EU delegation was invited today to speak at the informal meeting of rural development directors in Limassol to present the results of the "Organic Days" - the high level expert conference which took place from 24- 26 September in Larnaca, Cyprus. Addressing the delegations of Rural Development Directors from the 27 Member States and the European Commission, Christopher Stopes, President of the IFOAM EU Group, presented the key conclusions from the Organic Days.
Read the full Press Release here.
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IFOAM EU Group Press Release:
Hundreds join Good Food March in Brussels for radical farming reform
Brussels, Sept. 19 2012 - Hundreds of people gathered today in Brussels to call for radical changes to food and farming policy in Europe. Farmers, citizens, and young people from more than 20 European countries took part in the final day of the Good Food March and brought their demands for the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) directly to those responsible for its reform.
Among other things, the Good Food March is calling for fairer and greener farming, an end to food speculation, support for sustainable family farms – especially organic farming, fair prices for farmers, a grassroots based rural development policy, and increased cultivation of local protein crops – rather than importing soy to feed Europe's farm animals.
Read the full Press Release here.
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IFOAM EU Group Press Release:
Ministers must push real CAP reform to protect EU water and soil resources
Brussels, Sept. 10 2012 - Informal farm minister meeting must recognise potential of organic farming systems to deliver sustainability benefits under CAP
On the occasion of today’s Informal Council of EU Farm Ministers, where the management of the EU’s land, soil and waters resources are discussed, the IFOAM EU Group reminds the Ministers that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget must be used to effectively ensure the shift towards a sustainable food system, especially as financial means are under pressure as well as natural resources.
Read the full Press Release here.
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News Archive 2009_____________________________
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The IFOAM EU Group acknowledges the financial support of the European Comission, DG Environment throughout the year 2012. The sole responsibility lies with the IFOAM EU Group, and the Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information provided by IFOAM EU Group. |
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Department for Agriculture and Fishery Unit for Sustainable Agriculture (Departement Landbouw en Visserij Afdeling Duurzame Landbouwontwikkeling). | |
Company of the month:
IFOAM EU Short film
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